No better time A novel of the spirited women of the Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory Battalion

Dorothy Thom, a librarian at Spelman College, longs for adventure, so she enlists in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps to do her part in WWII. Single mom Leila Branch, who grew up in her mother's Dayton, Ohio, boardinghouse, enlists because she wants a better life for her son. From their first meeting, the two form an unlikely friendship, with Dorothy's book smarts complementing Leila's street smarts. Their bond strengthens during basic training, leading to their eventual assignment to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, stationed first in England and then in France. While the focus is on the women's lives and friendships, Williams (Things Past Telling, 2022) doesn't shy away from recounting the pervasive and insidious racism and misogyny faced by the women of the 6888th, including inadequate facilities and housing and harassment from both civilians and fellow service members. This novel will resonate with readers interested in character-driven stories about women's courageous service during WWII, such as Angels of the Pacific (2022), by Elise Hooper, and Women of the Post (2023), by Joshunda Sanders.

The unfocused latest from Williams (Things Past Telling) follows a battalion of Black Women's Army Corps members during WWII. Dorothy Thom is a librarian at Spelman College when she hears President Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy" speech following the attack on Pearl Harbor. In February 1943, with the president's words still reverberating, she joins the WAC in search of adventure. Meanwhile, in Dayton, Ohio, single mother Leila Branch signs up for the $21 per month to support her baby. Unsure what to do with Black volunteers like Dorothy and Leila, but powerless to deny them due to recent legislation, the Army immediately furloughs them. Eventually, Dorothy, Leila, and the others are sent to Fort Riley, Kans., where the women's officers realize their intelligence and capability. In early 1945, the women are assigned to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in England and France to sort through the millions of pieces of backlogged mail for soldiers--some of which go all the way back to the beginning of U.S. deployment in Europe. Throughout their time abroad, Dorothy and Leila sort letters and packages, note how much better they're treated by Europeans than Americans, and form lifelong friendships. The book bounces perspectives among characters, even minor ones, and never settles on a conflict; as a result, readers may struggle to find their footing. Despite laying down a promising runway, this never takes off. Agent: Matt Bialer, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. (Feb.)

Two young Black women experience the highs and lows of enlisted life during World War II. Leila Branch is a single mother in Dayton, Ohio, raising her son and living in her mother's boardinghouse, when President Franklin Roosevelt declares the United States at war. In Atlanta, Spelman College librarian Dorothy Thom is bored and eager for adventure. Though very different, the two women both see the opportunity of a lifetime in the newly formed Women's Army Corps: For Leila, it's a chance to build a better life for her son, while for Dorothy it's a chance to see the world. When they both enlist, they find that the WACs are put to hard work despite their distance from the front lines--but the two have each other when they strike up a close friendship ahead of being assigned to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, a job that takes them across the Atlantic. Although the author succeeds at laying out a broad and readable history of the WACs and the postal directory's work, there's little in the way of sustained conflict or tension to add interest to the plot. Challenges faced by the women, such as racism, are resolved quickly; when Leila is threatened with an involuntary hysterectomy, the matter is resolved within hours, with no ensuing difficulty. These deus ex machina resolutions are swift and frequent, undercutting what could be an interesting and layered novel. Readers wanting to learn the history of the WACs will find much to enjoy, but this novel remains a surface-level exploration. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.